Lexi Webster
Catfish are found in various environments across Australia, including coastal bays, estuaries, streams, lakes, and rivers. They are particularly associated with the Murray-Darling river system in eastern Australia, where they are present in slow-moving waters and coastal drainages. Catfish have suffered population declines since the 1970s due to carp invasion, pollution, and flow reversal, but they remain in catchments like the Macquarie, Namoi, Gwydir, and Border Rivers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Eel-tailed catfish |
| Scientific name | Tandanus tandanus |
| Other names | Dewfish, freshwater catfish, jewfish, tandan |
| Length | Up to 90 cm |
| Weight | Up to 7 kg |
| Colour | Olive-green, brown, black, purplish, white |
| Habitat | Slow-moving streams, lakes, ponds with fringing vegetation |
| Region | Eastern Australia, Murray-Darling river system |
| Population status | Endangered |
| Diet | Bottom feeder; shrimps, crayfish, mollusks, larvae |
| Behaviour | Nocturnal, solitary |
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What You'll Learn
Freshwater Catfish in the Murray-Darling Basin
The Murray-Darling Basin is home to 51 native freshwater fish species and 13 alien fish species. Freshwater Catfish, or Tandanus tandanus, is one of the native species found in the Basin. This species is also known as dewfish, jewfish, and tandan. The scientific name for eel-tailed catfish comes from the name for the fish in an unidentified Aboriginal Australian language, which Major Thomas Livingston Mitchell recorded on his 1832 expedition.
The eel-tailed catfish is found in most freshwater habitats of the Murray-Darling river system, except for the upland, sub-alpine, and alpine headwaters of southern tributaries. They inhabit slow-moving streams, lakes, and ponds with fringing vegetation and prefer to swim close to the sand or gravel bottoms. This species is more abundant in lakes than in flowing water. They are usually solitary, but juveniles may form aggregations.
The eel-tailed catfish commonly grows to about 50 centimetres and weighs about 1.8 kilograms. They have a large head with thick, fleshy lips and tubular nostrils. The skin is tough and smooth, and the body colouration varies from olive green to brown, black, or purplish on their backs and white on the underside. They have a downturned mouth with fleshy lips surrounded by barbels, which assist them with feeding.
The Murray-Darling populations of eel-tailed catfish have declined significantly over recent decades. They are listed as endangered in New South Wales and threatened in Victoria. Numerous factors have contributed to the decline, including drought, reduced water availability, bushfires, habitat loss, and the impact of introduced species.
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Catfish in the Gwydir River
Catfish are found in the Gwydir River, a 488-kilometre-long (303-mile-long) river in the Orana district of New South Wales, Australia. The river rises on the southern part of the Northern Tablelands, near the town of Uralla, and flows generally northwest onto the plains, where it branches into several channels. The Gwydir River eventually joins the Barwon River, mostly through its main branch, the Mehi River, which branches off to the east of Moree.
The Mehi River, a 160-kilometre-long (99-mile-long) tributary of the Gwydir River, was officially named in 1975, ending years of confusion over the naming of this section of the river. Native fish found in the Gwydir-Mehi river system include bony bream, Murray cod, spangled perch, golden perch (often known as yellowbelly), and
The eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus) is a species of catfish native to the Murray-Darling river system of eastern Australia. They inhabit slow-moving streams, lakes, and ponds with vegetation, and are more abundant in lakes than in flowing water. Eel-tailed catfish commonly grow to about 50 centimetres (19.7 inches) and weigh around 1.8 kilograms (4.0 pounds), but can reach up to 90 centimetres (35.4 inches) and 6.0 kilograms (13.2 pounds). They have a large head with thick, fleshy lips, tubular nostrils, and a downturned mouth surrounded by barbels for feeding. Their skin is tough and smooth, and their body colouration varies from olive-green to brown, black, or purplish on their backs and white on their underside.
The freshwater catfish population in the Murray-Darling Basin, including the Gwydir River, is listed as endangered in New South Wales and threatened in Victoria. Populations have declined in both distribution and abundance since the 1970s, with the species becoming nearly extinct in the southern half of the Murray-Darling river system. This decline has been attributed to various factors, including irrigation practices and drought conditions, which have reduced water flow in the river.
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Catfish in the Wimmera Basin
Catfish are found in the Wimmera Basin in Victoria, Australia. The Wimmera Basin covers 10% of Victoria's surface area but only contributes 0.9% of the state's water. The Basin is characterised by flat plains extending north from the Southern Pyrenees and the Grampian Ranges. The plains consist of finely textured unconsolidated deposits, which become an extensive dune complex near the Murray River. The Basin includes the Wimmera River, which flows into Lake Albacutya, a Ramsar Site of international significance.
The freshwater catfish population in the Wimmera Basin is listed as threatened in Victoria and protected under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. The species found in the Basin is the eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus), a native species of the Murray-Darling river system in eastern Australia. Eel-tailed catfish are brown to olive green, reddish, or purplish on their backs and pale on their undersides. They have a large head with thick, fleshy lips and tubular nostrils, and their skin is tough and smooth.
Eel-tailed catfish are bottom-feeders that prefer slow-flowing or still water in streams, lakes, and ponds with fringing vegetation. They are most commonly found in lakes, where they swim close to the sand or gravel bottoms. Catfish are usually solitary, but juveniles may form aggregations. In the Wimmera Basin, they are known to inhabit the Horsham Weir Pool and the Rich Avon Weir, as well as the Wimmera River and Lake Albacutya.
In the Wimmera Basin, there are regulations in place for fishing for catfish. Freshwater catfish can only be taken from waters within the Basin, with a minimum legal size of 30 cm and a bag limit of 2. The taking of catfish is prohibited in all other Victorian waters.
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Catfish in the Hunter River
Catfish, or more specifically, the eel-tailed catfish (scientific name Tandanus tandanus), is a species of catfish native to the Murray-Darling river system of eastern Australia. They are also present in several east coast systems in northern New South Wales, including the Hunter River.
The eel-tailed catfish is a freshwater fish with a large head, thick and fleshy lips, and tubular nostrils. Its skin is tough and smooth, and its body colouration varies from olive-green to brown, black, or purplish on its back, and white on its underside. This species commonly grows to about 50 centimetres in length and weighs around 1.8 kilograms, although larger individuals can reach up to 90 centimetres in length and weigh up to 6 kilograms.
The Hunter River, located in New South Wales, is one of the coastal catchments where eel-tailed catfish are relatively common. This river provides a suitable habitat for the catfish, as they prefer slow-flowing or still water in streams, lakes, and ponds with fringing vegetation. They are often found near the sand or gravel bottoms of these water bodies.
The presence of eel-tailed catfish in the Hunter River and other coastal catchments is notable given the overall decline in their populations across eastern Australia since the 1980s. The Murray-Darling populations, in particular, have seen significant decreases. This decline has been influenced by various factors affecting the Murray-Darling Basin. However, the species remains relatively stable in the upland reaches of northern Murray-Darling rivers, where water temperatures are warmer, and in coastal catchments like the Hunter River.
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Catfish in the coastal bays and estuaries
Catfish are found in the coastal bays and estuaries of Australia, with populations in several rivers and impoundments in the northern half of the Murray-Darling system remaining secure for now. The species is also present in the east coast systems in northern New South Wales. The eel-tailed catfish, also known as the freshwater catfish, is a native species of the Murray-Darling river system of eastern Australia. It is known to inhabit slow-moving streams, lakes, and ponds with fringing vegetation, swimming close to the sand or gravel bottoms. They are more abundant in lakes than in flowing water.
The freshwater catfish population in the Murray-Darling Basin is listed as endangered in New South Wales and threatened in Victoria. Populations have suffered severe declines in both distribution and abundance since the 1980s, with the Murray-Darling populations of eel-tailed catfish declining significantly. The species remains relatively common in coastal catchments from the Hunter River in New South Wales northwards.
The striped catfish, Plotosus lineatus, is another species that inhabits temperate coastal Australian waters. It is commonly found in bays and estuaries, usually in dense schools. The species is primarily tropical but has been recorded along the east and west coasts of Australia, from Sydney in New South Wales to Esperance.
The Bellinger catfish, on the other hand, is found in the mid-northern coastal rivers of New South Wales. Catfish are also relatively common in coastal catchments north of Newcastle, including rivers such as the Manning and the Bellinger. These catfish may be of a different subspecies, distinct from the widespread inland form found in the Murray-Darling Basin.
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Frequently asked questions
Catfish are found in the slow-moving streams, lakes, and ponds of the Murray-Darling river system in eastern Australia. They are also found in coastal drainages from northern Queensland to central New South Wales.
The most common type of catfish found in Australia is the eel-tailed catfish, also known as the freshwater catfish. Other types include the striped catfish and the estuary catfish.
The eel-tailed catfish has a large head with thick, fleshy lips and tubular nostrils. Its skin is tough and smooth, and its body color can vary from olive green to brown, black, or purplish on its back, and white on its underside. It has a distinctive eel-like tail. The striped catfish, as its name suggests, has striped coloration and barbels around its mouth.
The average size of an eel-tailed catfish is around 50 cm in length and 1.8 kg in weight. However, some individuals may grow up to 90 cm in length and weigh up to 6 kg. The striped catfish typically grows to around 35 cm in length.
